Jointed wheel-tread.



L. T. KNOWLES.

JOINTED WHEEL TREAD. APPLICATION FILED 110V. 28, 1910.

1,009,154; Patent ed N0v.21, 1911.

LOUIS THOMAS KNOWLES, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

JOINTED WHEEL-TBEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed November 28, 1910. Serial No. 594,531.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, LOUIS THOMAS KNOWLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and Stateof Minnesota, have 1nvented certain new and useful Improvements in Jointed Wheel-Treads; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved jointed wheel tread and, to this end, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices herein after described and defined in the claim.

The purpose of a jointed wheel tread of the character herein claimed is to provide a better ground engaging support for various kinds of vehicles such, for instance, as wagons, wheelbarrows and even for traction rigs,.but especially it is intended for vehicles which must travel sandy, muddy or other soft roadbeds.

The invention, in its preferred form, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, showing a vehicle .wheel having my improved jointed tread applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a plan view, showing a portion of the wheel tread removed from the wheel; and Fi 3 is a section taken on the linear: m of Fig. 2, showing also a portion of the vehicle wheel.

The vehicle wheel is indicated as an entiretyby the numeral 1. This wheel may be of any suitable form but, as shown and preferred, is provided with a fiat and smooth periphery.

The jointed wheel tread is'in the form of an endless .chain made up of ground engaging tread links or plates 2 and connecting links 3. The chain made up of these links 2 and 3 is of such size that there will be considerable play between the tread and the wheel rim on the lower advance portion of the wheel, this being necessary in order to permit the tread links or plates 2' to drop pmiperly into engagement with the ground out of the wheel. The connecting links 3 are pivotally connected to the tread 2, by pivots 4, which are located approximately midway between theends and the central portions of the said links 2, this belng done for an important purpose which Wlll hereinafter appear. Preferably, the connect ng links 3 are T-shaped in cross section with the central depending flanges thereof'working in slots formed in the ends of the links 2. The tread links or plates 2, in some mstances, may be made of wood and, when thus formed, they are preferably provlded with wearing plates 5 secured to the upper faces thereof between the ends of the pivotally connected links 3 andwith which the rim or face of the wheel 1 is adapted to engage. To hold the jointed tread in position on the wheel, the tread links 2 are shown as provided with retaining arms or lugs 6 secured to the sides of the links 2 and loosel embracing the sides of the wheel rim. W ith this arrangement, the jointed tread is loosely mounted on the wheel rim and the wheel is kept from slipping only by frictional engagement between the wheel rim and the links of the jointed tread. This friction, however, will be suflieient for all drawn or pushed vehicles and also for almost all kinds of traction rigs.

When the wheel is rotated, the tread links .or plates 2 will be dropped into contact with the ound in succession ahead of the wheel, so that they afford a sort of a track on which the wheel will run. When the wheel bears on the center of one ofthe tread links or plates 2, that link only will be pressed tightly into engagement with the ground, but when the wheel runs onto one of the connecting links 3, the weight will be simultaneously applied to two adjacent tread links 2. When, for instance, the'wheel'rests upon the central portion of one of the links 3, the weight will be evenly distributed be tween the adjacent half sections of the twoimmediately -connected tread links or plates but, of course, the extended halves of the said two tread plates will be pressed also against the ground, thereby giving an extended bearing surface. With this joint tread, therefore, there is no time when less than one complete tread link or plate will be pressed into contact with the ground and caused to afford a base of support for the wheel. The wheel cannot, therefore, cut deeply into soft ground or sand and a smooth supporting surface is afforded upon which the wheel will travel. Consequently, the wheel, with its jointed tread, is adapted to travel all kinds of soft roadbeds or ground, such as plowed or ver sandy places. Vehicles eguipped with t 's jointed tread may, there ore, be hauled or moved over soft ground much more easily than when provided with the ordinary r1ms or faces; and when the wheels areused as traction wheels they cannot, even if they slip slightly, cut deep holes in the ground. Furthermore, the improved tread is of simple construction and may be easily applied to all kinds of wheels without requiring any special preparation therefor. For instance, the tread may be easily placed upon any ordinary wagon wheel and does not even require that the length of the jointed tread be very accurately adjusted thereto.

What I claim is:

The combination with a wheel, of a jointed fields and the like,--

tread therefor made up of ground engaging tread links and connecting links, the said connecting links being pivotally connected to said tread links at pomts intermediate of the centers and ends of said tread links, the ends of said connecting links being set into the tread links so that the inner faces of said links are flush, one with the other, and

the said tread links having laterally spaced retaining arms loosely embracing the sides of'the rim of said wheel, substantially as described. v

p In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS THOMAS KNOWLES.

- Witnesses v HARRY D. KILGoRE,

BERNICE G. WHEELER. 

